Richard Higgs is a client manager at Equilibrium and has been at the firm for the best part of two years. The 29-year-old Financial Services Planning & Management graduate from Salford joined the company from an investment management company. Read on to hear more about Richard’s experiences at Equilibrium so far…

Before joining Equilibrium I’d been a Fund Accountant for eight years at an investment management company in Manchester city centre. During this time I completed industry recognised qualifications, including the Investment Operations Certificate and later studied for a degree in Financial Services Planning & Management and was delighted to achieve a first class honours degree after all of the hard work I put in.

After completing my degree I was looking for a new challenge and stumbled across Equilibrium when I was researching successful wealth management companies across the North West and Cheshire area. I was fortunate enough to be offered a position at the company and have loved each day ever since becoming part of the firm.

Equilibrium now employs 62 people and even though I’m still relatively new, I’ve seen the company grow massively over the past two years.

There is a real family feel that exists at Equilibrium. We all go out together, get free breakfast (which is just brilliant) and get at least 33 holidays a year. From starting your breakfast - scrambled eggs on toast, cereals, fruit, bagels and more – to the moment you leave for the day, you feel looked after. The great holiday allowance means that you can take the time you need to rest and come back to work feeling rested and relaxed.

It’s a brilliant company to work for and the senior management are very supportive towards all the team. I feel that I am able to contribute ideas and that I am listened to if I have ideas about new ways to do things.

Communication between management and all the team is very clear. If there’s a problem, you know about it. Equally, if you’re doing well you know about it. I recently won a ‘going above and beyond award’ – as different team members can nominate people to give each other a pat on the back when they deserve it which is a really nice thing to be able to do.

Another massive benefit at Equilibrium is being supported through exams and qualifications. Learning and development is seen as incredibly important throughout the firm and this has meant that I have opportunities to continue to develop and grow which is important to me.

Clearly from saying all this I was not surprised to see us feature in The Sunday Times Best Small Companies to Work For. To be in the top 100 is a fantastic achievement but to be in the top five is credit to the senior management team who have ensured that Equilibrium have maintained a strong family culture. I’m looking forward to what the future brings!

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